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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE , 

BUREAU OF FISHERIES 

Economic Circular No. 15 :::::::: : Issued April 8, 1915 

THE COMMON AND SCIENTIFIC NAMES OF FRESH-WATER MUSSELS." 

It is a matter of general knowledge that the common names of 
mussels, like those of fish, are not fixed. Therefore, in recording 
definite information regarding the distribution or qualities of species 
it becomes necessary to use tlie scientific or Latin names, which cor- 
respond not only to explicit published descriptions of species, but 
also to type specimens located in museums. There are examples of 
shells which may seem intermediate and of doubtful identification, 
but the scientific name offers the nearest practicable approach to a 
positive nomenclature. 

Should one write of the "bank-climbers," a reader familiar with 
common names as used on the Wabash River understands that refer- 
ence is made to a shell of wliite nacre very similar to the yellow sand- 
shell but inferior in quality {Lampsilis fallaciosa) ; wliile one more 
familiar with the common names applied in Arkansas would think 
reference was made to a very different species having a purple nacre 
and regarded as worthless for purposes of manufacture {Quadrula tra- 
pezoides). It is unavoidable, therefore, that in its publications the 
Bureau should use the scientific names of unmistakable application, 
while it endeavors to couple with such names the appropriate common 
names. 

On account of the direct commercial value of some 40 species 
of fresh-water mussels, there are many persons without scientific 
training who are yet interested in scientific papers dealing with their 
distribution, habits, and life history. 

It has been suggested that the Bureau should publisli in con- 
venient reference form a list of the species most commonly mentioned, 
showing the scientific name witli its common equivalent. The list 
which follows is not offered as complete. Where two or more com- 
mon names occur, the first-mentioned is given as the one in most 
general use and the one which it is desirable should be universally 
accepted. Tlie species adapted for present commercial use are mdi- 
cated by the use of boldface type, but some of the marked species 

a By Robert E. Coker, dii-ector of the United States Fisheries Biological Station, Fairport, Iowa. 






are not highly valued and others that are not here rated as commer- 
cial are sometimes used in manufacture. 

In a third column there are singled out certain qualities or charac- 
ters which determine the commercial rating. The record of these 
qualities will be of some value and will also serve to aid anyone 
familiar with mussels to relate the common and scientific names in 
cases of present confusion. The list thus becomes a catalogue of the 
commercial and noncommercial species more commonly encountered 
by pearlers and shell fishermen. 

It may be noted that while a commercial species may vary in 
quality according to the locality from which it comes, it is almost 
universally true that a commercial species is a commercial species 
wherever found. A striking exception is the case of the fat mucket, 
which, as found in some lakes, is entirely worthless, while in other 
places, as in Lake Pepin, it appears as one of the most valuable of 
all shells. It seems unavoidable, therefore, that a distinctive name, 
such as "Lake Pepin mucket," should be retained m use for the good 
form characteristic of certain bodies of water. It may be added 
that the Lake Pepin mucket is not a true mucket, but is really a 
fat mucket which is greatly superior not only to ordinary fat muckets 
but even to the true muckets of the river or of Lake Pepm itself. A 
more appropriate common name might be desirable, but it is not our 
purpose here to create new names, and "Lake Pepin mucket" 
represents an unmistakable type. 

Two questions that may arise from perusal of the list may be 
anticipated. The three-ridge and the blue-point are certainly not 
regularly distingushed. Perhaps the two species (Q. undulata and 
Q. iMcata) are somewhat arbitrary. As used here, the three-ridge 
{undulata) is the more compressed form characteristic of headwater 
streams or shallow clearer streams, and the blue-point (plicata) is 
characteristic of the deeper and slacker waters of main streams. 
Essentially the same difference of distribution is noted in the case of 
the two purple warty-backs — the more compressed Q. tuber culata 
and the heavier Q. granifera; as the shells of neither are valued, no 
distinction by common name has arisen in this case. 

The scientific nomenclature followed is that of Simpson's descrip- 
tive catalogue." Investigations of the present and future will lead to 
some permanent changesof scientific nomenclature, winch wiU probably 
affect generic names (the first name in each case) more than specific 
names (the second name). It seems obviously advisable to follow 
the only complete monograph now available, even though a revision 
might be necessary after some years. 
• ■ 

o Simpson, Charles Torrey: A descriptive catalogue of the Naiades or pearly fresh-water mussels. Bryant 
WaUcer, publisher, Detroit, Mich., 1914. 

APR J« 1915 



List op the Common Mussel Species and Some of Their Characters. 



^ 



(Note. — C after the scientific name indicates that the species is used commercially, but that owing to 
its scarcity or inferior quality it has little standing as a commercial shell.] 



Scientific name . 



Common name. 



Characters. 



Alasmidonta calceola 

Alasmidonta marginata. 
Anodonta corpiilenta . . . 

Anodonta grandis 

Arcidens confragosus 



Cy]5rogenia irrorata, C. 



Dromus dromus, C . 
Lampsilis alata 



Lampsilis anodontoides. 

Lampsilis capax 

Lampsilis faUaciosa, C 



Slipper-shell a 

Elk-toe , 

Slop-bucket 

Floater 

Rock pocketbook; bastard; 
rock-shell. 

Fan-shell; ringed warty- 
back. a 

Dromedary mussel a 

Pink heel-splitter; pancake; 
hatchet-back. 

Yellow sand - shell; ba- 
nana-she 0. 

Pocketbook 



Lampsilis gracilis 

Lampsilis higglnsii 

Lampsilis iris 

Lampsilis Ifevissima 

Lampsilis ligamentina. 



Lampsilis ligaiuentina 

gibba. 
Lampsilis luteola 



Lampsilis ovata. 



Lampsilis perdix 

Lampsilis pm-purata . 
Lampsilis recta. . . . 



Lampsilis ventricosa . . . 

Margaritana margaritifera. 



Margaritana monodonta. 
Medionidus subtentus.. . 

Micromya cselata 

Obliquaria reflexa, C... 
Obovaria ellipsis 



Slough sand-shell; bank- 
climber (Indiana). 



Paper-shell , 

Hlggin's eye 

Rainbow-shell « 

Paper-shell , 

Mucket; includes grass 
mucket. 

Southern mucket; yel- 
low-back mucket. 

Fat mucket; Lake Pepin 
mucket. 

Grandma; southern pocket- 
book. a 

Pheasant shell a 

Purply 

Black sand-shell; long 
John; honest John (Michi- 
gan). 

Pocketbook 



River pearl mussel . 



Plagiola elegans. . 
Plagiola securis . 



Spectacle-case 

Fluted kidney-shell 

Bird-wing a 

Three - horned warty-back. 
Hickory-nut; Missouri nig- 
gerhead. 

Deer-toe 

Butterfly 



Pleurobema sesopus, C 

Ptychobranchus phaseolus, C. 
Quadrula coccinea, C 



Bullhead; sheepnose; "clear 
profit." 

Kidney-shell 

Flat niggerhead 



Quadrula cylindrica Rabbit's foot. 

Quadrula ebenus 

Quadrula granite ra 

Quadrula heros 



Quadrula lachrymosa. 



Quadrula metanevra . 
Quadrula obliqvia 



Niggerhead 

Purple warty-back. 
Washboard 



Maple-leaf. 



Monkey-face 

Ohio River pig-toe . 

Quadrula plicata Blue-point 

Quadrula pustulata, C . 
Quadrula pustulosa. 

Quadrula subrotunda, C Long solid 

Quadrula trapezoides Bank-clunber 

Quadrula tuberculata Purple warty-back . 

Quadrula undata Pig-toe " 

Quadrula undulata Three-ridge 



Strophitus edentulus. 



|Pimple-back; warty-back 



Squaw-foot . 



Verv small. 

Small. 

Inflated, thin-shelled. 

Thin-sheUed. 

Rough exterior, inclined to be thin and 

brittle. 
Quality acceptable but hard; rather small 

and scarce . 
Similar to fan-shell in quality. 
Thin, brittle; generally purple or pink. 

Best for novelty and export trade; well 
known. 

Thin, inflated, often pink; not comnionly 
distinguished from ventricosa. 

Thinnish; large shells used; similar to yel- 
low sand-sheU, but restricted in distribu- 
tion, and generally too thin and small. 

V^ery thin. 

Raiiks with mucket. 

Small; like a very young mucket. 

Very thin. 

Staple shell; well known. 

Unsurpassed for buttons. 

Cuts and finishes with least waste; quality 

excellent. 
Like ventricosa, but thinner and more 

brittle. 
Like mucket, but too brittle and thin. 
Thin and purple-nacre d. 
White examples good; in form like yellow 

sand-shell. 

Inflated; inclined to brittleness; useful for 
novelties. 

Thin; not foimd in Mississippi Basin; pearl 
mussel of Europe and north-Atlantic 
drainage. 

Thin and brittle. 

Small. 

Very small. 

Small; otherwise equal to pimple-back. 

Good; yields some "iridescents;" accepta- 
ble with niggerhead. 

Small, white. 

Excellent, but never abundant; quality 
like mucket, but superior. 

Tough, brittle. 

Good, but hard and scarce. 

Quality good, but yields many "tips;" 

thin; often puik. 
Long, narrow, rough back; hard; often 

stained. 
Unsurpassed; yields "iridescents." 
Good quality, but purple-nacred. 
Very large; usually second grade; often dis- 
colored by stains; valued chiefly for large 

buttons. 
Rough back; excellent in texture; yields 

"iridescents," but thinnish at tips. 
Like maple-leaf, but inferior. 
Good quality; pure white, but lacking in 

luster. 
Staple shell of second quality. 
Quality good; yields iridescents; almost 

equal to niggerhead. These two species 

not commonly distinguished. 
Like niggerhead. 
Purple nacre . 

Purple; not distinguished from granifera. 
Good; somewhat inferior to niggerhead. 
Like plicata; quality superior, but thinnish 

at tip. 
Thin, inflated; generally yellowish. 



a Book name; no common name. 



List of the Common Mussel Species and Some of Their Characters — Con. 



Scientific name. 


Common name. 


Characters. 


Symphynota complanata, C. 


White heel -splitter; 

hackle-back; elephant's 

ear (Indiana). 
Fluted shell 


Large examples good, but often brittle. 
Generally too thin and ott' -color. 


Tritogonia tuberculata 


Buckhorn; pistol-grip 

Sugar-spoon a. 


Rough exterior; quality good. 




Oyster mussel o 








[small. 




Cat's paw; pewee 

Snuffbox a 










Elephant's ear 


Nacre generally purple, pink, or salmon; 
quality otherwise unsurpassed, nacre be- 
ing soft but firm; preferred for novelties. 

Resembles elephant's ear, but smaller, 
longer, and often with uneven inner sur- 
face. 




Lady-flnger; spike 





a Book name; no common name. 



WASHINGTON : GOVEENMEXT PRINTING OFFICE : 1915 






LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



002 903 629 9 



